Charlotte.com

March 13, 2009

Holt to Panthers? Barney Fife that one

Re-runs of "The Andy Griffith Show" remain popular with many Americans, especially in the South. Deputy Barney Fife is a classic character with a classic line he'd use to signal when something needed to stop: "Nip it in the bud."

Well, now that wide receiver Torry Holt has been released by the St. Louis Rams, it's time to "nip in the bud" the notion that the Panthers are going to enter the bidding for the former all-pro receiver, N.C. native and former N.C. State star.

The Panthers aren't venturing into the free agency market because they don't have the salary cap room and it doesn't fit into their philosophy of retaining core players and emphasizing the draft. Plus, they already have starters in Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad, plus a young understudy in Dwayne Jarrett. Adding someone of Holt's stature to the mix could actually complicate things.

Holt, 32, is past his prime, but might still have some good seasons remaining. It'll be interesting to see where he lands. It almost certainly will not be Carolina.

Comments

Thank you for ending this stupid speculation before it got out of control

Posted by: gengizk | Mar 13, 2009 6:09:01 PM

We don't need another Hack.

Posted by: hellfish | Mar 13, 2009 6:33:06 PM

Thank you before it breaks out. He is getting old and will not play for free because he went to State.

Posted by: wayne | Mar 13, 2009 6:41:32 PM

Jerry Rice....Gene Washington....Torry Holt..... How about a draft pick instead of a draught pick?

Posted by: Terry Bradshaw | Mar 13, 2009 7:25:02 PM

We cant sign nobody yet not until we resolve Pepper problem.

Posted by: panthers | Mar 13, 2009 7:28:30 PM

If you guys want me, make the Broncos an offer. Peppers for me straight up.

Posted by: Jay Cutler | Mar 13, 2009 8:14:03 PM

He has 869 rec,12,660 yards,74 Tds,and a 7 time pro bowler in 10 yrs.I don't believe we need him either but lets give him some respect and not compare him to DJ Hackett HELLFISH.That's just stupid.He's a definite Hall of Famer and still has some left in him.
Dude had 8 yrs in a row with 1100 yards or more until he had 800 last year with a sorry team.We dont need him but he aint washed up yet people.Good luck Holt.

Posted by: bryant80 | Mar 13, 2009 8:22:51 PM

The funny thing is, if Holt were a UNC grad, all you Panther/Tarheel fans would be practically dropping to your knees and unzipping his pants. Torry Holt might not be what we need, but he's no hack

Posted by: Mike | Mar 13, 2009 8:36:12 PM

Seriously. I love this team, but I gotta be honest - if I were Fox/Hurney I would be on the phone with the Broncos. Pep for Cutler makes too much sense. Even if it means I'm done!

Posted by: Jake Delhomme | Mar 13, 2009 8:44:46 PM

Its kind of funny, not in a haha way though. Its been said were one or two players away from getting to maybe the Super bowl this year,and yet we have no money to sign those one or two players! I'm not saying Holt is the answer, but I am saying how in the world did Fox let this team get salary strapped like this? If we don't get to trade Peppers at this point, were going to need a miracle of prayer that some player falls to us in the second round where were at cause at this point the whole trading Lucas failed when he rejected the trade to Detroit and ended up being released.

Posted by: Tman | Mar 13, 2009 8:49:56 PM

I agree with Jay! I mean trade Pep for him or at least make an offer. I want Jay here, not Jake. It wouldn't be the first Jake that Jay has replaced!

No Holt either, although he is great!

Posted by: D | Mar 13, 2009 8:56:32 PM

Tman,

FYI - Fox has absolutely nothing to do with the salary cap. Stop hating.

Posted by: shad | Mar 13, 2009 10:01:02 PM

He's packing his bags and heading for Sweet Caroline.

Posted by: Cutlery's Comin | Mar 13, 2009 10:20:18 PM

Idiots are those who pose as Jake, Jay, Peppers, etc. Use your real name if you want to make a comment. Trading Peppers for Cutler is not a fair trade. Use your brains and not your emotions....its really just a game.

Posted by: Leonard | Mar 13, 2009 10:22:43 PM

hey other leonard, it's not just a game it's big business. use your brains. cutler and a 2nd or 3rd round for peppers would be a good deal for someone of his young proven potential in a trade for peppers. at this point he probably wants out of denver, and we know where peppers' thoughts are... let's make the deal.

Posted by: Leonard Shmenard | Mar 13, 2009 10:51:52 PM

I just want to clear this up. WE ARE NOT IN CAP HELL. Peppers is costing us 17 mil for ONE YEAR, and every single cent of it is counting against the cap. If we trade him, we lose every single cent of that cap hit, which combined with our 2 or 3 million we are under the cap now, would give us like 20 mil of cap space to work with. Yes, it all hinges on what we do with Pep, and yes, with us restructuring all these contracts it looks like we are trying to free up the space elsewhere without having to get rid of Pep, but I personally feel that they are just trying to free up enough room to sign a couple of role-players like Kyle, and they are going to sit on Pep as the draft approaches to see how far his value will climb. But in the end, if they can't get the value they want for him and if there is no way for us to field a winning team without getting rid of him, you can bet your sweet a$$ he will be cut or traded.

Posted by: Steve | Mar 13, 2009 10:55:45 PM

Until we get rid of Pep we can't afford to do anything but let our FA's go. We NEED to get him traded!

Posted by: Alex | Mar 13, 2009 10:58:17 PM

Leonard Schmenard, you can obviously use your considerable wit to make fun of people, but I wouldn't try to wax intellectual about football anymore if I were you.

The Broncos do not have a reliable backup to Cutler, and he is 4 years younger than Pep. Why would it be in their best interest to make that trade? They lose a 25 yr old Pro-Bowl QB with 2 years left on his rookie contract for a 29 yr old DE who wants to be the highest paid defensive player in the league and who is unproven in a 3-4 scheme. AND you think they would throw in a 2nd or 3rd round pick to boot? Seems to me you may want to lay off the name calling and do a little book-learning there son.

Posted by: Steve | Mar 13, 2009 11:01:02 PM

Leonard, you are right. Trading Peppers for Cutler isn't a fair trade because Cutler doesn't take plays (or seasons) off. Denver would get F*%@#d on that trade. Now trading Jake for Cutler would be a good swap!

Posted by: Carl | Mar 13, 2009 11:04:39 PM

Its a big business but it is still just a game. They are not going to trade Cutler for Peppers because they have no credible person to replace him. By the time they found a good replacement Peppers will be past his prime.
Peppers will play for us next season and he will be franchised and traded for less value next offseason.
The Panthers have never been big players in free agency so I do not know why everyone is so surprised.

Posted by: Leonard | Mar 13, 2009 11:10:54 PM

Steve, you mean to tell me you don't think Simms is not a capable backup?????

Posted by: Carl | Mar 13, 2009 11:11:01 PM

come on guys use your real name if you want to make a comment

Posted by: leonard | Mar 13, 2009 11:23:57 PM

if chandler reports holt is not coming, that means the panthers will have a press conference tomorrow announcing his signing

Posted by: leonard | Mar 13, 2009 11:26:48 PM

Unfortunately, the front office has some love affair with Jake. They fail to see that he can't get us to the next level. They will never make a deal for a QB because they are too dumb to realize we need one.

By the time we get a decent QB...the RB's and WR's we have now will have been so tired of Jake not being able to play that they will have demanded a trade like Pep.

Jake...retire or something. No offense, you are a good guy but you belong on a team like the Lions where winning is not an option.

Posted by: Sad Truth | Mar 13, 2009 11:28:35 PM

Hey Leonard, my agent told me to go post this on the blog. I haven't even become a member of the Panthers organization and you are already calling me an idiot. No wonder Peppers wants out; not because of the management but because of fans like you, Leonard. I think I would rather stay in Denver than around the negativity that revolves around some of the fans here...